What to Do With a Flooded Car After an Orlando Summer Storm

The storm is over, and the water on the road is receding. Your car is now wet and gritty and sitting in your driveway. As you open the door, you notice the musty odor of floodwater, damp carpet, and condensation inside the gauge cluster. If you don’t have comprehensive coverage, or you’ve been told to get rid of it after your insurer has settled, there’s still time to make smart decisions.

1. You spot a line of water under the seats.

If you can see a clear line of water below the seats, that tells you a lot about how deep the flood went. You’ll find a thin brown line or bits of grass lodged in a crevice of the plastic seat tracks, the bottom of the door trim, and the center console. Even if the carpet is mostly dry, the padding below could still be holding a good amount of water, like a sponge under your kitchen sink.

Do not attempt to start the engine. The water may have gotten into electrical connections, computer modules, or the starting system. Trying to start the engine might cause further water damage. Before cleaning up the vehicle, take photos showing the water line, wet interior, dirt in the floors, and your VIN.

There are a few other things to consider before cleaning up.

• Take out personal belongings such as registration, sunglasses and the garage door opener.
• Take pictures of all sides of the vehicle including the dirty wheel wells.
• Put your key in a dry envelope or Ziploc bag.
• Write down the height of the water and how long it took to submerge the car.

2. You experience electrical issues days later.

Some flooded cars look fine once you stop pulling wet rugs from the floorboards. Then the issues start. A power window stops working halfway down, the horn goes off by itself, dashboard lights turn on and off while the car is sitting in the driveway, and the radio display is mostly dark except for one faded section.

These delayed electrical problems could be caused by moisture and corrosion inside connectors. Water could still be pooled under the rear seat, behind the kick panel or under the trunk floor for some time after the carpet dries out. Dirt, road salt, and flood debris accelerate the corrosion. It might look like a dry connection on Tuesday but have green corrosion on the pins by Saturday.

Don’t keep testing the buttons to see if the issue resolves itself. In some cases, it might be safe to disconnect the battery, but getting to it could be dangerous if there is standing water around a damaged wire. Get advice from a professional tow truck operator or mechanic who can evaluate the situation without reapplying power to wet systems. Document any new symptoms as they happen, including the date and whether the car was being started.

Don’t move the vehicle until your transport arrives. During this time, check to see if there’s fuel, oil, or coolant dripping underneath the car. Don’t let kids and pets around the drippings, and don’t hose them into a storm drain. If you can see dripping fluid, place an absorbent pad under it and advise the removal company of any strong odors.

3. Your insurance company declares your car a total loss.

Your insurance company determines that the cost of repairs exceeds the value (more info here) of your vehicle. It might be paperwork, sometimes accompanied by photos of the seat upholstery and a price list that includes wiring harnesses, modules, carpet, and labor. You should read the agreement closely before you sign it.

Find out if the insurance company is taking ownership of the vehicle. Sometimes, you’ll get towing and disposal included in your settlement. In other cases, the damaged vehicle is yours to handle, particularly if you only have limited coverage or if the deductible is applied. Inquire about the title and what happens to it in case of a total-loss determination.

Know the Title Status Before You Sell

The title might be labeled according to the nature of the damage. It could be branded as salvage, flood-damaged, or nonrepairable. Examine the paper title, insurance documents, and the paperwork you received when the claim was filed. A coffee ring over the upper right corner of a title isn’t problematic, but you need to verify that the title shows all the required names and signatures and that no lienholders appear.

Lienholders must give the paperwork necessary to clear the title. The vehicle identification number on the car must be easily seen and match the paperwork precisely.

Be Honest About the Flood Exposure

If someone takes the vehicle, they should know what happened to it. Tell them where the waterline stopped, if it was clean water or muddy runoff, and if anyone tried to start the engine. Share your experience about the lights on the dash, the wet electrical fuse box, or the mud under the back seat. Don’t try to fix everything before getting rid of the car. You should leave evidence of what happened. A wet leaf in the door panel and dirt on the floorboards can demonstrate the damage. You want whoever comes to pick up the vehicle to be able to deal with the situation; a tow truck driver might not have the right tools to remove a vehicle with locked-up brakes or a stuck transmission.

Get Rid of the Car Without Trying to Start It

If you live in Orlando and need to dispose of the vehicle, cashforcarsorlandofl.com can help you out. Tell the car removal company that the vehicle is damaged and shouldn’t be started. Flatbed trucks or properly equipped tow trucks can handle vehicles with electrical issues, brake problems, or transmissions that won’t shift. Make sure there’s enough room for the truck, move bikes and garbage cans out of the way, and prepare the title, ID, and keys. Take off the plates if that’s required, and take another look in the trunk and glove box.

Safe Removal of the Flood-Damaged Vehicle

A car that’s just wet can become a headache very quickly. Check the waterline, secure the title, tell anyone who takes the vehicle about the problem, and have the vehicle picked up without trying to start it. Doing these things can prevent the car from causing further trouble outside of your house.